History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 74

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I > Part 74

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Public exhibitions found but little favor, and the Solons of the Territory did not encourage them. On April 13, 1827, a law was passed providing that "If any person, or persons, shall exhibit any puppet show, wire dancing, or tumbling, juggling or sleight of hand, within this territory, and shall ask or receive any pay in money, or other property, for exhibiting the same, such a person, or persons, shall for every such offense pay a fine of not less than ten nor exceeding twenty dollars."

The most enterprising caterer to the amusement- loving public was Major D. C. Mckinstry. In 1834, when the city had a population of only about five thousand, he was at the same time proprietor of a theatre, a circus, a museum, and a public gar- den, all of them separate and distinct from each other ; and in size and management they would be creditable even in the present day. The Circus occupied a large wooden building on the northeast corner of Gratiot and Farrar Streets ; it was after- wards used as a theatre, then as a furniture factory, and was finally burned. The Michigan Garden, as it was called, is identical in location with what was recently known as Brush's Garden ; it was bounded by Randolph, Brush, Lafayette, and Croghan Streets. The garden, in 1837, was described as being " lo- cated at the northern extremity of the town." It contained a restaurant and bath-rooms ; also many kinds of fruit trees, and plants in great variety.

The following literal copies of advertisements from the papers of that day furnish details concerning the garden and the entertainments there given :

To SPORTSMEN !!!

Rare sport at the Michigan Garden ! Two Bears and one Wild Goose will be set up to be shot at, or chased by dogs, on Tuesday, 20th October, at two o'clock P. M.

N. B .- Safe and pleasant seats will be in readiness for Ladies and Gentlemen.

DETROIT, Oct. 19, 1835.

MICHIGAN GARDEN.

The public are respectfully informed that the Garden continues open to visitors. The Museum, consisting of some of the finest specimens of Ornithology, Minerals, Coins, natural and artificial curiosities, and a Grand Cosmorama occupying one building of the Garden ; another containing thirty-seven wax figures, of some of the most interesting characters. The Garden will be illuminated every fair evening, and a band of music will heighten the enjoyment of a walk through upwards of three thousand feet of promenade walk.

Refreshments as usual. The Baths are likewise in order for company.

Aug. 19, 1840.

The Museum was opened on May 13, 1834, oc- cupying the two upper stories of the four-story building then owned by Mr. Godard, on the south- east corner of Jefferson Avenue and Griswold Street. It was burned out in the fire of January I, 1842.

In after years several valuable private museums and collections existed, to which the public had ac- cess without charge. The collection of S. W. Hig- gins, who lived on the northeast corner of Williams and Elizabeth Streets, though not large, possessed much of value. It was gathered chiefly by his son, who, as an officer in the United States Navy, visited the Mediterranean and other foreign ports; it was especially noted for its specimens of cutlery from the interior of Africa. The best private museum was that of Dr. Louis Cavalli, located on Franklin Street, east of St. Antoine. It was established about the year 1846, and was open daily to all visitors, free of charge, until 1852 or 1853. The collection embraced many rare stones, shells, and minerals, and was especially complete in insects. There were also many rare curiosities from Herculaneum. The celebrated men of the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries were represented in a series of fourteen hundred medals; there were also engravings in great variety, and copies of paintings by Raphael and Correggio. On the death of Dr. Cavalli, the collection was sold to the Smithsonian Institution.

Among out-door sports, skating and coasting were always popular, and a favorite resort was known as Piety Hill. This hill, probably fifty feet high, lay inside of the Catholic grounds between Randolph, Bates, and Larned Streets and Michigan Grand Avenue. Sleds would go from the summit,

352

RECREATIONS AND AMUSEMENTS.

near the corner of Randolph and Congress Streets, through to Bates Street. Congress Street was finally cut through the hill, and the elevation was levelled many years ago. About 1850 Shelby Street, from Jefferson Avenue to the river, afforded a fine op- portunity for coasting, and sleds oftentimes went nearly a third of the way across the river.

On December 7, 1860, the first skating rink was opened. It was located between Third and Fifth, Beech and High Streets. Another was subsequently opened on the northwest corner of Woodward Avenue and Davenport Street. A rink was also built on the northeast corner of Woodward Avenue and Edmund Street; and in 1861, and for several years after, skating was a popular pastime with beaux and belles.

FASTER ENE

RECREATION PARK ENTRANCE AND RECEPTION BUILDING.

As a place for out-door entertainments, Recrea- tion Park affords all facilities that can be desired. It is located on the Brush Farm, the entrance being a few blocks east of Woodward Avenue, on Brady Street. The grounds, embracing eighteen acres, are fitted up to accommodate exhibitions of various kinds. The Reception Building has every needful appliance for comfort and convenience. The Park was opened on May 10, 1879

A Zoological Garden was established on Michi- gan Avenue, near Tenth Street, and first opened on September 5, 1883. It was conducted by a corpora- tion, and a large amount of money was expended,

but the enterprise did not prove a financial success, and the garden was closed July 29, 1884.

Between 1830 and 1840 many of the prominent merchants were accustomed on Saturday afternoons to engage in a game of football, and in rolling can- non-balls on Jefferson Avenue, between Griswold and Wayne Streets. Billiard-tables were in use prior to 1805. George Meldrum, in his estimate of losses by the fire of that year, notes "one billiard- table, $25." A noted game of billiards was played at Detroit on April 12, 1859, between Michael Phelan, of New York, and John Seereiter, of De- troit. The match took place at Firemen's Hall, Phelan winning by ninety-six points.

Among the noted events, in the way of recrea- tion, was a series of amusement meetings held in Young Men's Hall. The use of the hall was given by Luther Beecher, and the first of a series of night entertainments, which lasted about two weeks, took place on March 10, 1874. Those who aided gave their services; songs, stories, and music formed the programme, and the hall was filled to overflowing every even- ing.

On June 7, 1875, under the joint auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Home of the Friendless, the Authors' Carnival began at Young Men's Hall, and con- tinued for a week. The aim of the entertainment was to repre- sent appropriately the works of noted authors, and it was admir- ably carried out at an expense of over $5,000.

Roller skates and velocipedes came into common use in 1875. The city license fees for amusements are as follows: Theatres, from $50 to $200 per year; circuses, $75 for first day, and $50 for each succeeding day; ball-alleys and billiard-tables pay $5 per year for each alley or table.

Athletic and aquatic sports have been encour- aged by the organization of numerous societies. The Social Turn Verein, or German Gymnastic Asso- ciation, was organized June 17, 1852, and incorpor- ated February 6, 1855. In 1860 the society erected a building on the south side of Sherman Street, be- tween Russell and Riopelle Streets, at a cost of $4,000. The Peninsular Cricket Club was organized in 1858. The cricket grounds are on the west side of Woodward Avenue, just north of Fremont

353

RECREATIONS AND AMUSEMENTS.

Street. One of the most noted games was played with the All England Eleven on September 25, 1879, the English cricketers being victors. On August 13, 1867, a great Base Ball Tournament be- gan on the cricket grounds and lasted nearly a week.

The Detroit Gymnasium, an organization now extinct, grew out of a private gymnasium belonging to persons connected with the Lake Survey Office. Their apparatus was obtained by D. Farrand Henry, and he and Messrs. W. A. Throop and A. Selleck fitted up a gymnasium for personal use over a bookstore on Woodward Avenue, near Congress Street. Others desiring to participate, on Febru- ary 9, 1858, a club was organized, the members to pay five dollars per year each. On April 6, 1859, a new constitution was adopted, and in 1860 the Gymnasium was moved to the Seitz Building. Here it was largely patronized and be- came very popular. It was then moved to Congress Street, near Larned, to what was known as the Gymnasium Building. Here it lost its popularity, and in 1867 was practically closed. In 1876 the apparatus was turned over to the Young Men's Christian Association, and in 1885 was still in use by that organization.

Scottish games and memories are kept alive through the Detroit Caledonian Club, organized in 1867. The Detroit Schuetzenbund, or German Shoot- ing Club, was organized in April, 1855, and incor- porated July, 1866. Its building is located in a park of eleven acres, in Hamtramck, on the Mack Road. It was erected in May, 1873, at a cost of about $4,000 ; the entire property is worth $10,000. The Audubon Club, originally organized on Febru- ary 24, 1868, to secure the preservation of game, has now become a social club.

The most popular and flourishing sporting organi- zation is the Lake St. Clair Fishing and Shooting Club. It was organized April 11, 1872, and incor- porated on June 4 of the same year. The original plan was to limit the club to twenty-five members ; the number was then increased to fifty, and finally to two hundred and twenty. A stock company was formed, which owns the buildings and apparatus. Members must be owners of one share of stock and pay an initiation fee of twenty-five dollars. The club-house cost $5,000, and is located at the north end of the St. Clair Flats Canal. The boats are free to members of the club. The house is in charge of a steward, and members pay a stipulated sum per day for board and lodging while at the house. Friends of members may be invited to the house, if they are not residents of Detroit or towns immediately adjoining. The Star Island House, a public hotel located near by, is a favorite resort in the summer season.

The width, length, and general smoothness of the

Detroit River makes it extremely favorable for boating and for regattas. These opportunities are every year increasingly appreciated, and the boat clubs of Detroit are a marked feature in the sport- ing life of the city. There are few finer sights in a summer evening than the boating parties; the boats are often manned in part by ladies, and the gay uniforms and bright flags, the measured dip of the oars, and merry laughter, make a pleasing combination of sight and sound.

The oldest boat club is the Detroit. It was organized February 18, 1839, and re-organized August 23, 1856. It owns one of the finest boat- houses in the country, erected in 1873, at a cost of $5,000. It was originally located between Hastings and Rivard Streets, and was moved to its present location, between Joseph Campau and McDougall Avenues, in 1877.

The Excelsior Boat Club was organized on May 14, 1867, and incorporated June 14, 1871. Amended articles were filed January 8, 1878. The club- house, at foot of Joseph Campau Avenue, was erected in May, 1867, and has since been improved ; with the boats and other property of the club, it is valued at $5,000.

The Zephyr Boat Club was organized in June, 1867, incorporated May 12, 1875, and disbanded in 1881.

The Centennial Boat Club was organized Sep- tember 14, 1875, and incorporated March 2, 1876. Its boat-house, between Chene Street and Joseph Campau Avenue, cost $550, and was dedicated June 30, 1877.

Other boat-clubs have been organized from time to time, but most of them may be said to be lying on their oars. For the purpose of general practice and the management of regattas and races, several of the clubs were united under the title of the Detroit River Navy. It was organized in August, 1867, and re-organized in June, 1868, and again on June 8, 1874.

Among the occasions of special interest to boat- clubs were : The annual regatta of the Northwest- ern Amateur Boating Association, July 14, 1870; the opening day of the Northwestern Regatta, on August 14, 1877 ; and the arrival of the Shoe-wae- cae-mette Boat Club, of Monroe, on August 3, 1878, on their return from England; August 6, 1878, was the opening day of Detroit River Navy Regatta, and August 7 of the same year the open- ing day of Northwestern Regatta.

On June 28, 1879, the Detroit River Navy Regatta took place. The Wyandotts won a two- oared race, the Michigans won the four-oared, and the barge race was won by the Detroit Club.

The National Rowing Regatta for 1882 was held at Detroit, beginning on August 8.

CHAPTER L.

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .- ART, ARTISTS, AND INVENTORS.

MUSIC is indigenous to this region. The first settlers heard not only the rude rattles of the In- dians, but the air was vocal with the songs of bobo- links, larks, and robins, to which the chatter of squirrels and the call of the wild ducks as they swept over the town formed a fit- ting chorus. There were soon added the din of drums, the plash of pad- dles, and the lusty songs of the trad- ers as they rowed up and down the river.

Music was need- ed to cheer the loneliness of those so far from home, therefore fife and fiddle were in con- stant play ; and the echoes of their tones linger still about the town, and their memories are linked with the music of to-day.

In olden times, as now, the churches were the foster-mothers of all singers. The records of St. Anne's for May 15, 1755, mention the marriage of Jean Baptiste Ro- coux, " Chorister of the Parish ;" and the Pontiac Manuscript tells of an instrumental concert given on June 3, 1763, in honor of the con- clusion of peace.

Later on, in 1815, there were many excellent sing- ers among the troops stationed here. Their favorite resort was the Yankee Boarding House on Bates

CONCERT AT THE CAPITOL BY MR. BLISSE, THE TYROLESE MINSTREL,

Who has performed in the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and New Orleans, and all the principal cities, of the U. States with great applause, respectfully informs the Ladies and Gentlemen of this place, that he will give a Concert at the Capitol on Thurs- day and Friday evenings.

ORDER OF PERFORMANCE.

lat. Tyrolese Song, 2d. Sweet Home, 3d. Tyrolese Song of Friendship, 4th. Oh no, we never mention her, 5th. Tyrolese Song for Liberty,

6th. Ship at sea ( German) 7th. The Cuckoo, Stk. The Swiss Boy, 9th. I'ts all the same.

We find the following in the New-York Courier and Enquirer of a lato date. " Carle Mans, a Tyrolese, sang on Saturday some aire at the Chatham Theatre, in the manner peculiar to the peertatry of his country ; se is impossible to describe the singular notes he produces. It is, however, the same mode of singing as that which excited so much astonishment in Londen, from the Tyrolese Minstrels, a year or two since." We have bad an opportunity of hearing Carle Blisse, the Tyrolese minstrel, referred to lo the above pragraph, and are free to confess that we know not in what terms to express our admiration. His style of singing was entirely new to us, and produced the most pleasant sensations. We could have listened to him for a long night without weariness of fatigue. The Boston Traveller says : There is now at the Tremont a Swiss, wba, in our opinion, is a phenomenon of some importance in the bistory of music. He produces sounds such as we should think no other voice was ever able to bring forth and very foe delicate nod dehghful sounds thấy trị. Next to his singing commend ve to his bow.

Admittance-25 Cents. Tickets to be had at Woodworth's and at the Mansion House. Detroit, June 21, 1832.

FAC-SIMILE OF CONCERT BILL OF FIFTY YEARS AGO. (Half size.)

Street, where they would gather to sing and to drink "hot flip." In more recent days the singers of the city occasionally united in musical societies, and on such occasions the dining-room of some one of the hotels would be transformed into a concert hall. Among the noted local vocal- ists Madame Va- rian Hoffman was prominent, and in more recent days Edward Scovel and D. V. Bell, Jr., have attained more than local fame. Ronaldson Hunt, one of the best of character singers, went from here to California.

At various times we have been fa- vored with visits from musical ar- tists whose fame is in all lands. Theresa Parodi and Amalie Patti were here October 23, 1851; Adelina Patti, July 1, 1860; Gottschalk, April 21, 1862; Carlotta Patti, February 10, 1882; and Nilsson, Lucca, Mario, An- na Bishop, Capoul, Cary, Kellogg, Phillips, and Cam- panini at other times. William H.

Doane and Philip Phillips have sung several times in Detroit; and Dudley Buck, the great organist, Carl Zerrahn, director of the Boston Handel and Haydn Society, and Lyman Wheeler were in at- tendance at a Normal Musical Institute in July and August, 1876, and also in 1877. These Institutes

[354]

353

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

were arranged by Professor S. S. Jackson, and were greatly enjoyed by all who participated.

Among the musicians and teachers formerly resi- dents of Detroit, the best known were P. De Coster, Professor Merceron, J. Monds, C. H. Levering, the Sofges, Sig. Martiney, C. Hess, H. Schonacher, G. A. Metzgar, E. Hoffman, the Yarndleys (Thomas, Richard, and Joseph), Signor P. Centemeri, Pro- fessor Philbrick, C. Swinscoe, T. M. Towne, J. Zundel, L. H. Blaisdel, J. Hammill Marum, and E. S. Mattoon.

The oldest musical association in the city is the Harmonie Society. It was organized on June I, 1849, and incorporated in 1852. The corner-stone of its beautiful and convenient building, on the

HARMONIE HALL.

southwest corner of Lafayette and Beaubien Streets, was laid October 22, 1874, and the hall dedicated on November 11, 1875. The lots, building, and furniture cost about $60,000. The property is man- aged by nine directors, five of them, and then four, being elected on alternate years. The society em- ploys a musical director, secretary, and steward; and its annual expenses are $7,500. Although offi- cered and managed by Germans, it numbers among its members many leading citizens of other nationali- ties. The musical directors of the society have been : 1849-1851, - Wiehle; 1851-1863, John Marx; 1863-1866, Charles Stein; 1866-1871, H. Bishop; 1871-1873, Carl Hintz; 1873-1886, F. Abel; 1886- , W. Yunck.

A society called the Detroit Musical Association was organized on November 2, 1850, with the fol- lowing officers: U. T. Howe, president; C. S. Adams, vice-president ; C. H. Avery, treasurer ; W. T. Cole, secretary. The committee on music con-

sisted of J. L. Whiting, C. A. Trowbridge, C. Hess, C. R. Morse, and U. T. Howe. Under their auspices and managed by Professor Charles Hess, a musical convention was held from June 10 to 14, 1851, at the First M. E. Church, on the corner of Woodward Avenue and State Street. Professor Saroni, of New York, was present and delivered an address.

The Detroit Philharmonic Society was organized in 1854. It was under the direction of P. Cente- meri, and flourished until about 1860, when the director moved to New York. From 1868 to 1870 another society, with the same name, was in opera- tion, with A. Elder as president.

The Concordia Society was organized on Febru- ary 22, 1865, under the leadership of W. Kopp. In July, 1867, he was succeeded by F. Apel, and two months later by J. Tinnette. He was followed in 1872 by Professor Abel. H. Bishop became the leader on June 1, 1874, and G. Freytag on January 15, 1881. The society was incorporated April 10, 1873, and meet at 175 Gratiot Avenue, between St. Antoine and Beaubien Streets.

The Nicolao Philharmonic Society, with Joseph Nicolao as leader, was organized in 1873, and con- tinued for several years.

A musical society was commenced about 1870 in connection with the German Workingmen's Aid Society, and maintained for some years.

The Detroit Musical Society was organized in the fall of 1870 in the parlors of the Michigan Exchange. In February, 1872, the services of Professor Abel were secured as musical director, and a society was organized by the name of St. Cecilia, but this name was soon exchanged for that of Detroit Musical Society. From its organization until the fall of 1880 the rehearsals were held in Merrill Hall, except for the second year, when they were held in the Baptist Church, on the corner of Fort and Griswold Streets. On the completion of the new Music Hall, on Ran- dolph, between Croghan and Lafayette Streets, the society, for a time, made the building its head- quarters, and then returned to Merrill Hall. In 1881 it numbered about two hundred active members, who paid five dollars per year, and three hundred honorary members who paid ten dollars per year. S. K. Stanton served as president until 1878, and was succeeded by C. H. Wetmore. The secretaries have been: 1875, Joseph Colt ; 1876, J. G. Erwin ; 1877, to October 2, 1882, F. T. Sibley. Owing to differences of opinion among the members, the soci- ety practically disbanded on October 2, 1882. Four years later, in September, 1886, it was revived, with L. S. Trowbridge as president, W. W. Munday as secretary, and F. K. Abel as musical director.

From 1876 to 1879 a Catholic Musical Society was conducted under the direction of Professor Freytag.

356

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

The Detroit Chorus Union was organized January 19, 1872, under the direction of Professor Jackson. He resigned May 17, 1872, and was succeeded by Professor Albert Miller. After practicing ten years, the society discontinued its meetings in 1882.

The Orpheus Musical Society, with E. C. Gore as director, and L. H. Thomas as pianist, was organ- ized in 1873, but has been harmoniously inactive for several years past.

The Arion Glee Club was organized in February, 1874, with C. H. Thompson as director, and J. C.

All1874 .J.WHITNEY

PIANO S.A.C.J. WHITNE

on GANS

Photo Ena. Co.NA

MUSIC STORE OF C. J. WHITNEY, 40 FORT ST. WEST. Built in 1874.

Batchelder as pianist. It was short lived. In 1878 a new society by the same name was organized, with G. B. Sihler as director. He was also director of the Detroit Zither Club, organized in May, 1877.

The Schumann Society was organized September

24, 1883, with Oliver J. De Sale as chorus master, and J. De Zielinski and L. H. Thomas as associate directors. It had an active membership of over one hundred, and gave several successful concerts, but ceased after two years.

In 1874 a new factor in musical education ap- peared in the Detroit Conservatory of Music, estab- lished by J. H. Hahn. It was an outgrowth of the music department of the Detroit Female Seminary. Through its influence, classical music has become popularized, and the works of the great masters are familiarly known, and this is also true of the best class of modern composers. In 1887 the Conserva- tory had 533 students and 21 instructors. The De- troit School of Music, established in 1883, Vet's Academy of Music, in 1882, and Mazurette's Musical College, established in 1887, are large and flourishing institutions.

The meetings of the North American Saenger- bund, June 24-27, 1857, and the Peninsular Saenger- fest, which began August 30, 1880, under the auspices of the German societies, were both notable events.

The first piano brought to Detroit was the prop- erty of Mrs. Solomon Sibley, formerly Miss Sproat. She had used it while attending school at Bethle- hem, Pennsylvania, and after her marriage, in 1803, brought it with her to Detroit. It was transported on horseback from Bethlehem to Marietta, and we may, therefore, be well assured that it did not com- pare in size with the pianos of to-day.

The first organ was brought here by Father Richard. During the War of IS12, while he was occupying the farm in Springwells, the Indians re- moved the pipes of his organ and used them as horns, making the woods ring with their shouts and tooting. Either this organ was repaired or a new one procured by Father Richard, for after his death in 1832, an organ which had been used in St. Anne's was given to Trinity Church, and was subsequently in use at St. Joseph's Church. In 1831 St. Paul's Episcopal Church procured a new organ, and on the occasion of its first trial, on Friday, September 30, a concert was given under direction of Mr. Newell.

The musical compositions of several Detroit au- thors have found numerous purchasers. Of various pieces here published, it is safe to say that over a mil- lion copies have been circulated. A single instru- mental piece, the Detroit Schottische, composed and published by Adam Couse about 1854, reached a sale of over one hundred thousand copies in America, and was republished in several foreign countries. Signor P. Centemeri published a number of songs, medita- tive in character, that were deservedly popular. Of two songs written by C. T. Lockwood, of Pontiac, and published by Whittemore & Stephens, "Don't you

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 74

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094